Department of the History of Art and Archaeology

Arts and Society in sub-Saharan Africa

Course Code:

15PARH052

Status:

Course Not Running
2015/2016

Unit value:

0.5

Year of study:

Any

Taught in:

Term 1

This course considers the relationship between visual art and social identity in Saharan Africa. The intention is to move away from the persistent and often pernicious imposition on artworks and artists of interpretative categories that are substantially of external invention. However rather than imposing categories from without, the emphasis of the course is to consider the ways in which individuals and communities place themselves in relation to works of art of their choice. This provides a focus on the local perceptions of form, tradition and history among people in Africa.

One of the themes for the course is modernity and masquerade, as masked performances survive and indeed in places thrive in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. They are part of the modern world. At the same time they are emblematic of the past, of inherited traditions and performance practices and so highlight the complex and dialectic relationships between the present and the past, innovation and continuity, and the making of local African modernities Others are the textile histories in Africa and their deconstruction of Western hierarchies of art; the various and varying relationships between art and identity; art and Islam in Africa; and local relationships between the visual and the verbal among others.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the course

The Learning Outcomes:

To have gained knowledge and understanding of the key themes, issues and debates of African art, with attention to the dialectics between visual art and social identity in sub-Saharan Africa.

To be able identify and compare different approaches to understanding art traditions in Africa.

To be able to assess critically the materials and themes explored in the course.

To have been introduced to the range of skills used in art history and developed independent study and research skills.

To have an appreciation of the variety of cultural values and explore their implications for equality issues such as class, "race", gender, sexual orientation, age and disability as they pertain to the course and the issues raised.